Whale tangles increase as fishing season changes

An increasing number of whales becoming entangled in fishing lines and floats off the mid-west coast is being blamed on changes to the rock lobster fishing season.

Three whales have been reported tangled between Jurien Bay and Geraldton since January.

Douglas Coughran from the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) says while the number seems low, the migration of the largest population of humpbacks from Antarctic waters to breeding grounds in the north-west starting this month, will see entanglements rise.

He says entanglements have surged since lobster fishing moved to a year-round quota system in 2012.

Fewer than 10 whales were entangled in 2011 but last year a total of 22 were reported.

Mr Coughran says the DEC is working with the fishing industry on a plan to stop those numbers from rising.

"Fishermen and us are certainly concerned," he said.

"They don't go out there to catch whales, they go to put food on our table and in that process, these events can occur."

The Western Rock Lobster Council says it already abides by industry standards to reduce whale entanglements but is considering new methods.

Council CEO John Harrison says more whales are being entangled because their populations are increasing and lobster fishing has moved to a year-round quota system.

"We also changed our fishing patterns for the first time in many, many, many years," he said.

"We're now fishing for 12 months in the year for lobster so the interaction is going to be there during the migration."

Mr Harrison says until the new methods are determined, rock lobster fishers are being asked to follow simple measures to reduce entanglements.

"If they're coming from deeper water with longer ropes, is to shorten their ropes so there's the least amount of rope floating on the surface as possible," he said.

"If they're not going to be fishing for an extended period of time is to remove their pots from the water.

"I guess the most important is just to be vigilant, the whales' migration season has started."